★★★★★
“I completed a death doula certification course through another organization, but felt like something essential was missing. This course is exactly what I was looking for.”
– Annette K.
Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) Support Doula Specialization Program
Your compassion is your calling. IEOLCA helps you support MAiD decisions with steadiness, clarity, and care.
Advanced • For Trained Doulas & Helping Professionals
Non-Medical • Scope-Aligned
MAiD • AID • VAD Contexts
Self-Paced • Online
MAiD support doulas offer grounded, non-medical presence alongside families, care teams, and assisted dying decisions.
Increasingly, people in eligible regions are choosing Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD), Aid in Dying (AID), or Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) as a way to align their final days with their values. These decisions are deeply personal, often shaped by autonomy, dignity, comfort, and concern for loved ones.
Families and care teams are asking for grounded, non-medical companions who can walk beside this choice without judgment — people who understand the unique emotional, spiritual, and relational landscape of an assisted death and who can help create a calm, intentional space before, during, and after the day of death.
The MAiD Support Doula Specialization Program is an advanced, online training for previously trained end-of-life doulas and adjacent professionals. It offers a structured, scope-aligned framework to support clients and families who are considering or choosing assisted dying, while honouring local laws, clinical roles, and each person’s values.
Pre-register now for $99 USD (reg. $549)
Program launches in February 2026
Reserve your spot in this advanced MAiD support doula training and lock in the reduced preregistration rate.
Pre-Register — $99 USD
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Why MAiD Support Doulas and Compassionate Companions Are Needed
Around the world, more people are asking for care that goes beyond medical treatment alone. In jurisdictions where Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD), Aid in Dying (AID), or Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) is legal, individuals and families often need someone who can explain the process in plain language, hold space for complex emotions, and help them create a meaningful, values-aligned farewell.
MAiD support doulas and non-medical end-of-life companions do not replace doctors, nurses, or spiritual care providers. Instead, they bridge the human side of this choice: offering steady presence, guiding conversations about wishes and legacy, helping prepare the environment, and supporting early grief and meaning-making after the death.
This program was created to support that need. It offers a clear, adaptable framework so doulas and helping professionals can accompany assisted-dying choices with ethical clarity, emotional steadiness, and deep respect for everyone involved.
Who the MAiD Support Doula Specialization Program Is For
This specialization is designed for those who already have a foundation in end-of-life care and want to deepen their ability to companion people through assisted-dying decisions. It’s a good fit if you:
Already serve in a helping role, such as:
- Previously trained or practising end-of-life / death doulas
- Spiritual health practitioners and chaplains
- Social workers, counsellors, or therapists working around end of life
- Hospice volunteers and palliative care team members
- Other helping professionals who accompany families through serious illness and loss
Recommended background: Previous end-of-life doula training or equivalent experience with dying, grief, or spiritual care. New to this field? You’re warmly invited to begin with the IEOLCA Certified End-of-Life Doula Program and then return for this MAiD specialization.
Scope of practice: This training is non-medical. It does not cover medication selection, eligibility decisions, or clinical care. Instead, it focuses on the doula’s role: presence, communication, preparation, ritual, collaboration, and aftercare within existing legal and clinical frameworks.
Save your spot at the $99 limited-time preregistration rate
Preregistration price: $99 USD (regular $549). Official Program Launch: February 2026.
Pre-Register — $99 USD
Secure checkout with stripe
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For your security, all orders are processed on a secured server.
What You’ll Learn in the MAiD Support Doula Specialization Program
The MAiD Support Doula Specialization Program is a self-paced, online training that guides you through a deeply reflective and practical learning journey. It includes focused video lessons, a comprehensive guidebook, and a full set of tools and templates designed to help you apply what you learn in real support situations. Because each learner moves at their own pace, the total study time varies — most participants spend several weeks exploring the material, integrating new insights, and practicing their skills in compassionate communication and end-of-life support.
Module-by-Module Curriculum
The program includes eight core modules, plus a guidebook and resource kit. Below is an overview of what we’ll explore together.
Module 1 – Introduction & Foundations
- The human side of assisted dying: autonomy, dignity, and choice
- Why people consider this path and what it represents to them
- Understanding your role through the Platinum Rule
- Navigating differing beliefs with compassion and neutrality
- Global terminology and regional variations
- Clarifying the scope and boundaries of the doula role
Module 2 – Ethics, Language & Cultural Sensitivity
- Holding space without judgment across diverse values and worldviews
- The power of neutral, supportive language—words that help and words that harm
- Supporting choice without advocacy or persuasion
- Working respectfully with faith-based and culturally diverse families
- Recognizing social and cultural influences on end-of-life decisions
- Core ethical principles that guide compassionate doula practice
Module 3 – Legal & Procedural Overview
- How legal frameworks vary by region
- Eligibility criteria, safeguards, and consent requirements
- The medical team’s role and clinical process
- What typically happens on “the day”: timing, environment, and flow
- Building respectful, collaborative relationships with healthcare providers
Module 4 – Support & Preparation in the Final Days
- Helping clients and families prepare emotionally and practically
- Exploring motivations, values, and legacy wishes
- Facilitating family meetings and difficult conversations
- Creating calm, intentional environments
- Supporting letter-writing, reflections, and memory-making
- Ritual planning, including the tealight countdown practice
Module 5 – The Doula’s Role on the Day of Death
- Grounded presence and calming techniques for yourself and others
- What to expect: pacing, communication, and environment
- Language that comforts and supports in the moment
- Holding space for diverse reactions—relief, grief, uncertainty, or peace
- Maintaining professional boundaries and emotional steadiness
Module 6 – Aftercare & Ongoing Support
- Immediate aftercare and closing rituals following death
- Supporting early grief and complex emotional responses
- Assisting with memorialization and meaning-making
- Referral pathways for grief counselling and community resources
- Doula self-care, reflection, and integration after supporting an assisted death
Module 7 – Professional Practice & Collaboration
- Building trust and rapport with healthcare and hospice teams
- Documenting and communicating within your professional scope
- Understanding legal and ethical frameworks for practice
- Community outreach and public education
- Continuing education and long-term professional growth
Module 8 – Integration & Reflection
- Reflective practices to deepen self-awareness and skill
- Case study explorations of nuanced real-world scenarios
- Applying the Platinum Rule in everyday doula work
- Personal growth and boundary maintenance
- Final integration project and certification assignment
Comprehensive Guidebook
- Module-by-module write-ups with examples and modelled phrases
- Reflection prompts and space for notes to support thoughtful integration
- Designed for quick reference during real-world practice
Doula Resource Kit
- Client-ready tools and templates (intake and aftercare checklists, planning worksheets)
- Sample emails and phrases, ritual ideas, and case-study reflection sheets
- Downloadable and printable for easy use with families and care teams
About IEOLCA and How This Training Is Held
The International End-of-Life Care Association (IEOLCA) is a global education organization dedicated to training, mentoring, and equipping doulas and compassionate companions to support people at the end of life — along with those who love them. Our programs are rooted in the Platinum Rule: treat others as they wish to be treated.
In the MAiD Support Doula Specialization Program, this means centring the person’s values, collaborating respectfully with families and care teams, and recognizing that each situation is unique. We offer evidence-informed, non-medical content that aligns with widely recognized doula competencies and can be adapted to a range of legal and clinical settings.
The training is both structured and reflective. You’ll find clear, step-by-step guidance as well as space for personal integration — so you can grow in both professional confidence and inner readiness to accompany assisted dying decisions.
IEOLCA stewards curriculum, learner support, and ongoing program development for doulas and compassionate companions worldwide.
Save your spot at the $99 limited-time preregistration rate
Preregistration price: $99 USD (regular $549). Official Program Launch: February 2026.
Pre-Register — $99 USD
Secure checkout with stripe
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For your security, all orders are processed on a secured server.
What Our Learners Are Saying
Learners in IEOLCA programs often describe the training as both practically useful and deeply meaningful. Many
share that they feel more prepared, grounded, and confident in their ability to support people and families at the
end of life — and more aware of their own values and boundaries in this work.
While this MAiD specialization is new, it is built on the same foundations that our students consistently
appreciate: clear guidance, reflective practice, and tools they can bring directly into conversations, vigils, and
aftercare.
Frequently Asked Questions
A quick overview of how the MAiD Support Doula Specialization Program works, who it’s for, and what to expect.
Is pre-registration open now?
Yes. Pre-registration is open at a reduced rate of $99 USD (regular $549). Program launches in February 2026. Pre-registering reserves your spot and locks in the lower price.
Who is this specialization designed for?
This program is designed for previously trained or in-practice end-of-life doulas and adjacent helping professionals, including:
- Spiritual health practitioners and chaplains
- Hospice volunteers and palliative care team members
- Social workers, counsellors, therapists, and grief companions
- Other professionals who support families through serious illness and loss
It is especially helpful if you anticipate working in settings where MAiD, AID, or VAD is legal or being discussed as an option.
Do I need previous doula training to join?
Previous end-of-life doula training or equivalent experience is recommended. If you are new to end-of-life care or doula work, we suggest starting with the IEOLCA Certified End-of-Life Doula Program and then returning for this specialization once you’ve built a foundational skill set.
Is this medical or clinical training?
No. This is a non-medical, scope-aligned program. It focuses on:
- Communication and language
- Preparation with clients and families
- Environment, vigil, and ritual
- Collaboration with care teams within your role
- Aftercare and grief-aware support
Decisions about eligibility, medications, and clinical care remain with the healthcare team and governing bodies in your region.
Is aid-in-dying available where I live?
Laws and clinical policies around MAiD, Aid in Dying, and Voluntary Assisted Dying vary by country, province/state, and institution — and may change over time. This program offers adaptable principles and encourages you to review current guidelines in your area and work collaboratively with local care teams.
When will I receive access to the materials?
Course access opens February 2026. On that date, you’ll receive login details for the online learning portal, where you can move through the modules and resources at your own pace.
What credential do I receive when I finish?
Upon completion, you’ll receive an IEOLCA Certificate of Completion for the MAiD Support Doula Specialization Program. This recognizes your participation in a documented, non-medical training aligned with widely recognized doula competencies.
It is not a government-issued license, clinical credential, or legal designation, and does not replace any requirements set by employers, volunteer programs, or regulatory bodies in your area.
Answer the Call to Walk Beside Choice with Compassion
If you feel drawn to support people and families navigating Medical Assistance in Dying, Aid in Dying, or
Voluntary Assisted Dying, you are not alone. This work asks a great deal of our hearts — and it deserves careful
preparation, clear scope, and a community of learning.
The MAiD Support Doula Specialization Program is an invitation to deepen your capacity to be present, grounded,
and ethically clear in some of the most nuanced conversations and moments you may ever hold. If this is the
direction you feel called to explore, we would be honoured to walk with you.
Pre-Register — $99 USD
Secure checkout with stripe
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For your security, all orders are processed on a secured server.